Digital Extra: The Station Fire

01:02 PM EST on Thursday, December 16, 2004

The Associated Press

PROVIDENCE -- The civil suits filed in relation to The Station nightclub fire were consolidated today under a master complaint that represents 240 plaintiffs and 47 defendants.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux, who granted the motion for an amended complaint, said the new suit will help the cases move more quickly through the court system because it allows the judge to act on one complaint rather than several.

The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick killed 100 people and injured hundreds more. The suit represents victims' families and those injured in the blaze, which was sparked by a band's pyrotechnics.

The new complaint adds about 20 more plaintiffs and substitutes several defendants from the original complaint filed in October. The new complaint also presents new legal arguments for suing certain companies.

Lawyers for several of the defendants said the move to amend was an attempt to avoid getting some of the defendants dismissed. Lagueux said the defendants could refile their motions to dismiss the case.